O'Keeffe gets Q-School call up

Peter O’Keeffe (left) caddying for his close friend Mark Murphy in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush this summer. The roles will be reversed at the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, which begins at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona on Saturday. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePeter O’Keeffe’s European Tour dream is still alive after he was handed a last minute call up for this weekend’s Qualifying School Finals in Catalonia.

The big-hitting Douglas player, who celebrated his 31st birthday last Friday, was devastated to lose out in a four-man play-off for the last qualifying spot at his Stage Two qualifier in Murcia 11 days ago

But he got in as ninth alternate yesterday after Sweden’s Niklas Lemke withdrew to concentrate on the PGA Tour Q-School finals in California.

“I’m delighted,” beamed O’Keeffe, who is completing his PGA training at Muskerry Golf Club. “I had an idea that I might get close to getting in and with the main season finishing so near the Q-School a lot of guys entered who were in danger of losing their cards but didn’t in the end.

“They withdrew and freed up a lot of spots and then Niklas pulled out to concentrate on the US Q-School, so I’m thrilled.

“I got the finals in 2007 and missed the cut comfortably but I feel I’m far better player this time.”

His addition to the 156-man field means Ireland will have six hopefuls battling for 25 cards in the gruelling six-round test at the PGA Catalunya Resort near Girona, where making the 72-hole cut for the top 70 and ties guarantees a Challenge Tour card.

O'Keeffe makes Q-School move

Peter O’Keeffe caddying for pal Mark Murphy in this year’s Irish Open at Royal Portrush. (Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)Ballinasloe’s Mark Staunton retained his six shot lead entering the final round of the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section A in Scotland.

Higgins tiptoes around Q-School carnage

The opening day of the 2012 European Tour Qualifying School final stage was a tough one for the 156-man field.Waterville veteran David Higgins used all his experience to survive the carnage on a windlashed opening day at the European Tour Qualifying School finals at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Catalonia.

Higgins and O'Keeffe see red at Q-School

Peter O’Keeffe rips a long iron down the ninth on the Tour Course at PGA Catalunya Resort. David Higgins found his putting touch to fire a sensational six under 64 on the Tour Course and get within two shots of the lead after the second round of the marathon European Tour Qualifying School final stage at the PGA Catalunya Resort.

As Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe came back from the dead by following his opening, wind-blown 81 with a five under 65 to keep alive his hopes of making the cut on Tuesday, 39-year old Higgins made six birdies in an immaculate round to share seventh place on five under par.

Higgins on Q-School pressure: "You only have one chance"

Stand and deliver. Niall Kearney rips a great drive down the first on the Stadium Course in the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School final stage at PGA Catalunya Resort.Simon Thornton loves the challenge but David Higgins believes you’d have to be mad to say you enjoy the experience of battling for you livelihood in the marathon European Tour Qualifying School.

Higgins the sole survivor on day of pain

With his tour dream in tatters, Chris Devlin blasts a perfect drive down the ninth, his final hole, on the Stadium Course at PGA Catalunya Resort in the fourth round of the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.The list of illustrious casualties was of no comfort to Ballymena’s Chris Devlin as he limped away from the European Tour Qualifying School facing an uncertain future following the devastating quadruple bogey eight that wrecked his tour dream.